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Spot inspections result in action against more than 40 vessels

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More than a fifth of fishing vessels subject to a random spot inspection have either been detained or prohibited from being used for fishing by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The targeted campaign saw surveyors from the MCA visiting ports in Scotland and the South West of England, inspecting 212 vessels at random. All sizes of vessel were inspected during the unannounced inspections held across seven days in June. A total of 1,249 deficiencies or non-compliant items were found across all those inspected with just 14 being fully compliant with the regulations. The worst areas for non-compliance were life-saving appliances, firefighting equiment, ILO188 and vessel and crew documentation.  As a result, just over 20% [44] of the vessels inspected faced enforcement action, with some being detained until the non-compliances were put right and others facing prohibition notices which would stop them being used for fishing. Brian Johnson, Chief Executive with the MCA, said there was go...
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National Shipping Incident Exercise - Wales Coast

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 A national shipping incident exercise is under way off the Welsh coast. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be leading a two-day exercise off the coast of Wales designed to test the response to a serious shipping incident. It will bring together the Port of Milford Haven, shipping and salvage companies and environment groups, as well as the MCA and the Department for Transport. Called Exercise Celtic Deep, the event will run on 21 and 22 October off Milford Haven, with most participants taking part remotely, in line with current Government COVID-19 guidelines. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the UK National Contingency Plan which details the UK’s response to marine pollution from shipping and offshore installations.  
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Two People Rescued from capsized boat at Portland Bill

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  A 999 call was received at 8.43am today (October 20) reporting a capsized fishing boat off Portland Bill with two people on board. Portland Bill and Wyke Coastguard Rescue Teams, the Weymouth RNLI lifeboat, HM Coastguard's search and rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent, the South West Ambulance Service and Warship Westminster have been in attendance. The crew of Warship Westminster located the upturned vessel and rescued two people. They were then transferred to the Weymouth RNLI lifeboat. One of the casualties has been airlifted to Dorchester Hospital for treatment by the Lee-on-the-Solent search and rescue helicopter. The other has been transported to Weymouth lifeboat station.  
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HM Coastguard continues to provide mutual aid

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HM Coastguard is proud and committed to be playing its part by providing mutual aid support to local authorities and the NHS, as part of the ongoing fight against Covid-19. Working closely with local resilience forums and regional resilience partnerships, so far, we have been able to attend to and complete over 800 mutual aid requests across the UK. This has meant we have been able to help other category one responders by supporting frontline services, providing assistance to the vulnerable in our communities and urging people to follow the Government's Covid-19 policy guidelines at all times. Our teams have been busy in coastal areas by providing high visibility patrols of beaches and hotspots, as well as reporting any incidents or large gatherings of people to local police forces. If you’re wondering how busy, take a look at the map which shows the broad range of locations where our volunteer coastguard rescue teams have been based over the past few weeks. O...
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HM Coastguard teams provide mutual aid support over Easter weekend

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HM Coastguard teams from across the UK played their part in the fight against Covid-19 over the long Easter weekend, providing help and support to other emergency services, local authorities and NHS bodies. Dozens of coastguard rescue teams were asked through local resilience forums to patrol beaches and coastal hotspots, provide safety advice and report any incidents or large groups of people to local police. Coastguards were also out and about on the streets of Cardiff supporting Cardiff Council and South Wales Police by patrolling the city with a clear message, broadcast by loud hailer, to stay at home and save lives. By providing mutual aid to other category one responders we are supporting frontline services, providing help to the vulnerable in our communities and supporting government policy. Images courtesy of Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team, who were supporting South Wales Police over the Easter weekend by providing mutual aid in the Swansea area. ...
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Kayakers Rescued In Strangford Lough

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Eight kayakers got into difficulty in Strangford Lough this morning and have been recovered to shore by lifeboat and helicopter. Belfast Coastguard was called at 10.35am by two kayakers who had managed to make it to an island in the Lough and reported that another six kayakers in their group were in the water after capsizing.  HM Coastguard sent the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Portaferry and Bangor and requested the launch of the Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat. The two kayakers who had made the call for help were located by the Coastguard helicopter on an island and were airlifted to shore and the RNLI Portaferry lifeboat recovered the other six people from Strangford Lough.  All casualties were received on shore by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and have not required hospital treatment. Notes to Editors:  General advice for kayakers HM Coastguard recommends that kayakers tell someone at home their pas...
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Coastguard appealing to Mariners in Peterhead to check their EPIRBs after multiple distress alerts received

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UK Coastguard is currently investigating a series of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alerts which are being triggered in Peterhead, Scotland. Following extensive Search and Rescue operations to locate the device and its owner, UK Coastguard are now appealing for the owner of the EPIRB, a Standard Communications PTY Ltd, Model: MT401FF  to come forward and let the Coastguard know they are safe and well. Multiple alerts have been sent by this EPIRB as far back as  6 June  up to this morning 29 September.  The alerts are being picked up by satellite with a position in the Peterhead area. Kaimes Beasley, Duty Controller for UK Coastguard said:  ‘We believe the EPIRB is being triggered accidentally – maybe knocking against something on a boat which is switching it on and off again.  We are appealing to everyone in the Peterhead area who has an EPIRB to check their device and get in touch with ...
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